1. It implies that God works upon us as Rational Creatures; He changeth the Heart indeed, but he doth it by Direction: he draws us to himself, but it is with the Cords of a Man; he teacheth while he draws. Joh. 6. 44, 45. None can come unto me but those whom the Father draws; and he proves it by this, because they shall be all taught of God. God's drawing is teaching, it is both by the attractive force of the Object, and the internal Efficacy of his Grace; the Spirits conduct is sweet, yet powerful, ⟨p. 113⟩accomplisheth the Effect, but without offering violence to the liberty of Man. We are not forced, but directed. There is not a violent compulsion, but an inclination sweetly raised in us by victorious Grace, or the overpouring sweetness of his Love. For we love him, because he loved us first. 1 Joh. 4. 19. And this love is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost, who by giving us an esteem and serious remembrance of his Benefits, blows up this holy flame in our Hearts. We do not love God, we know not why or wherefore; An account can be given of all the Spirits operations. Look as in an impression, there must be a Seal, and Wax to the Seal, and the hand that stamps it: so all concur here. The Word doth its part, that is the Seal, and the Heart of Man receives the Impression, but to make it effectual and durable, the hand of God concurs, or the power of his Spirit. The Object is the Gospel, wherein God commends his Love to us by the Incarnation, Death, and Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ; as also by the new Covenant, because he will work upon Man after the nature of Man, by Love he will work upon Love. Beside all this, there is an internal powerful Agent, the holy Spirit. The external objective means cannot do it without the inward cause. Though God's Love doth so gloriously and resplendently shine forth in the Gospel, yet the Heart of Man is not affected with it, till it be shed abroad by the illuminating sanctifying Spirit. The Heart of Man is dark and dead to these things, till changed by Grace, and when that is once done, that Impression is according to the Stamp.
1. It implies that God works upon us as Rational Creatures; He changeth the Heart indeed, but he doth it by Direction: he draws us to himself, but it is with the Cords of a Man; he teacheth while he draws. Joh. 6. 44, 45. None can come unto me but those whom the Father draws; and he proves it by this, because they shall be all taught of God. God's drawing is teaching, it is both by the attractive force of the Object, and the internal Efficacy of his Grace; the Spirits conduct is sweet, yet powerfull, ⟨p. 113⟩accomplisheth the Effect, but without offering violence to the liberty of Man. We are not forced, but directed. There is not a violent compulsion, but an inclination sweetly raised in us by victorious Grace, or the overpouring sweetness of his Love. For we love him, because he loved us first. 1 Joh. 4. 19. And this love is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost, who by giving us an esteem and serious remembrance of his Benefits, blows up this holy flame in our Hearts. We do not love God, we know not why or wherefore; An account can be given of all the Spirits operations. Look as in an impression, there must be a Seal, and Wax to the Seal, and the hand that stamps it: so all concurr here. The Word doth its part, that is the Seal, and the Heart of Man receives the Impression, but to make it effectual and durable, the hand of God concurs, or the power of his Spirit. The Object is the Gospel, wherein God commends his Love to us by the Incarnation, Death, and Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ; as also by the new Covenant, because he will work upon Man after the nature of Man, by Love he will work upon Love. Beside all this, there is an internal powerful Agent, the holy Spirit. The external objective means cannot do it without the inward cause. Though God's Love doth so gloriously and resplendently shine forth in the Gospel, yet the Heart of Man is not affected with it, till it be shed abroad by the illuminating sanctifying Spirit. The Heart of Man is dark and dead to these things, till changed by Grace, and when that is once done, that Impression is according to the Stamp.
